As Americans take to the grill this July 4th, thousands of pounds of charcoal will go up in smoke. Cover coals with toxic lighter fluid, throw on a briquette or two, don’t forget the bug spray and the fireworks and you’ve got a recipe for toxic air.

Charcoal is one that burns dirty. Upon ignition, the substance not only produces hydrocarbons, but also emits tiny, air-polluting, soot particles. Lump charcoal, made from flavor-enhancing charred wood, adds to greenhouse gases and contributes to deforestation . . . another global warming double whammy! Charcoal briquettes, though partly composed of sawdust–a good use of otherwise useless wood–can still be harmful. Most popular brands contaminate the charcoal with sodium nitrate, coal dust, limestone, borax, and starch. When burned, these compounds can cause problems.

If you want to be green on the barbie this 4th—and hopefully the rest of the summer—consider buying some environmentally conscious charcoal. Eco-charcoal is made from pure natural wood fiber and contains no added chemicals. There are several on the market and Shop Green offers an Artisan Lump Charcoal, Mesquite. The Artisan Lump Charcoal is made locally in Texas (the BBQ capital of the world) from a cleansing process that rids wood of resins and acids—common to most major-brand briquettes. What remains in the Artisan Lump Charcoal, however, is a pure fiber that accounts for, “a subtle, natural flavor.” Yum, how many more days ‘til the 4th?

Posted on June 25th, 2007 by Olivia Zaleski